Comments on: That “Old-Time Religion”?

By: dana

dana — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:43:00 +0000

There is a double meaning to the term “secularist,” whose divergent senses lie at the crux of the difficulty in engaging Jews both politically and religiously: There are secular Jews who defected from their observant upbringings and there are secular Jews who never had religious upbringings to begin with.

As the New York Times article claims (and as my own experience supports), the trend of independent minyanim is spurred by Jews in the former category. These Jews seek a new form of Jewish community which caters to their already existing religious interests and concerns for social justice. As the article states, they are seeking “an experience they are not finding in traditional Jewish institutions.”

Though there are exceptions, independent minyanim most often appeal to Jews who already have a sense of Jewish tradition and peoplehood, and not as often to Jews who have never had a framework for practicing - or learning - about their Judaism. As formal Jewish institutions often bemoan, it is Jews in this latter category who are more difficult to bring into the fold.

Political advocacy organizations should not have to try hard to tap into these communities, since these communities have formed with political concerns already in mind. Practical community outreach is reason enough for advocacy organizations to send people to visit these minyanim (if their representatives are not already members), and there they’ll find that there already exists room for engagement.

As for reigning in Jews of the latter category, it’s a matter of constantly reminding one’s self of the necessity to bring new people into the fold. There is a tendency for communities - whether religious or political - to become so settled within themselves that they fail to maintain a constant air of introduction. It is challenging to simultaneously make people feel like they are coming back to a familiar place while giving fresh welcome to the newcomers. Perhaps the very fact that Jewish advocacy organizations are not religiously affiliated can help them integrate Jews who do not have a history of religious practice.

By: Jay Gourd

Jay Gourd — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:53:30 +0000

Mr. Tatz wrote:
“And how much of this new religious affiliation is merely a yearning for spiritual self-realization rather than a true expression of Jewish peoplehood?”

Serious Jewish religious affiliation inevitabily leads one to a greater sense of Jewish peoplehood. In the case of males, the halacha requires it. You (ideally) must meet with at least nine other Jews three times a day to say prayers which review some of the basic ideas of Judaism, ideas that are often in great contrast to the outlook of modern, non-Jewish culture.

You (ideally) must study the historical Jewish perspective as recorded in the Talmud and related sources. This connects you not only with our history, but with Jews all over the world who are studying the same things and strenghthening our common culture that has survived and will survive, and has kept us alive and conscious of our existance as a people apart, apart although involved.

By: gweitz.ar

gweitz.ar — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:37:59 +0000

Landau, you’ve totally missed Hannukah’s message. Secularism is not equal to Assimilation. I’m the fourth generation of Secular Jews (three generations living in a free country) and I have a Jewish girlfriend and we plan to, someday, marry and have Jewish kids..

Am I such a mistake?? How about most Israeli Jews, who are not observant??

By: Eva Ginsberg

Eva Ginsberg — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:03:16 +0000

John Landau’s comments are absolutely correct and especially appropriate during the time of Chanukah. Perhaps we can extrapolate further in what is happening in Israel today. The problems in Israel today stem from the fact that most Israelis and its leaders view Israel as a “secular” Jewish state. By disassociating ourselves from our religion, we are giving up our rightful claim to the land of Israel. The Arabs and Palestinians are only too aware of our weakness, and will not stop until they have claimed the entire land of Israel. The only way that Israel can survive is to recognize that Israel is a Jewish “Democratic” State, not a state for Jews. We should be proud of our religion and heritage, and be proud to be a Jew. If we are, no one will be able to stop us.

Did you know that most Jews in Israel cannot complete the following phrase - Avraham, Yizhak and ??? Over 60% of IDF soldiers have never visited the Wailing/Western Wall. How can Israel continue to exist if the new generation doesn’t even know what it is fighting for? Is it enough to just have a feeling of being Jewish? How long can this feeling last without a Jewish education? Zionism has to be nurtured not just through our culture and traditions, but through our religion as well, or else what we end up with is just a dilution of values.

By: John Landau

John Landau — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:57:36 +0000

There are no Jews without Judaism. Jewish identity was never separable from religious belief. This is the meaning of the history of the Maccabees. The attempt by the Hellenizers to create a “secular” Jewishness doomed the Jewish people to assimilation or disappearance.Only the military defeat of the secularists by those “zealous” for religious tradition enabled the Jewish people to survive. For better or for worse, Judaism is a religion, not a “culture,” not even a “civilization.” It is certainly not a political movement or “political activism.” A “secular” Jewishness and Jewish identity can only exist in a society that excludes and discriminates against Jews, which makes their “identity” externally imposed. This secular “identity” disappears automatically when Jews either are given a chance to assimilate into a prosperous society, or when on the contrary, Jews are exterminated (which is what happened in Europe).

By: L Vieland

L Vieland — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:05:14 +0000

We secular, but identified Jews of a certain age applaud young adults like Mr. Tatz. However, institutions alone cannot instill meaning in young Jewish lives. Parents must talk to their children, keep the holidays, tell the stories - both the holiday stories and each family’s stories. Holidays for secular Jews can be filled with special foods, music, dancing, candle-lighting and, always, stories.
Every American family was once an immigrant family. Therefore, every family has stories of its origins. If parents leave acculturization to television and pop music, their children will identify with what is presented by the popular media. The responsibility as well as the fun begin at home.

By: gweitz.ar

gweitz.ar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:19:05 +0000

Really interesting post!! I’m an Argentinean Jew, and here most Jews relate to our Jewishness not through religion but through Jewish culture and Zionism. Maybe that’s because Argentinean society is extremly secular, while the US society is more religious (here nobody asks a candidate if he/she goes to church!!).

So maybe you can visit us and we’ll show you how we struggle to keep a vibrant non-observant Jewish community…